Buckaroo Ball to benefit Ionia 'jewel'

4th annual evening of Western hospitality raises money for the historic Ionia Theatre

Karen Botakaren.bota@sentinel-standard.com

The Ionia Theatre becomes the Wild, Wild West for one evening as the Buckaroo Ball returns Feb. 23.

The signature fundraiser for the Ionia Theatre, a local landmark since 1931, will begin at 7 p.m. at the theater, which is located at 205 W. Main St. Tickets are $12 in advance, or $15 at the door.

The evening of fun will include gourmet appetizers and desserts provided by area restaurants, a gift bag for each attendee, live and silent auctions, and a cash bar with proceeds supporting Enrich.

Entertainment will be provided by award-winning pianist and composer Deborrah Wyndham, who will perform old-fashioned saloon-type music and ragtime, and also a local band.

Business and private donors have been "very generous, as they have been in the past," providing a variety of gifts and services for the auctions, said Ionia Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Director Linda Curtis.

"There is something for every member of the family in the live and silent auctions, and more items are being added daily," Curtis said. "The big item this year is a trip to Nashville, Tenn., with a create-your-own itinerary."

"You don't have to enjoy Western decor or country music to have a good time," Curtis said. "You can wear your boots and dust off your hat, dress casual, or dress up. It's perfectly fine. The Buckaroo Ball is a relaxed atmosphere."

The DDA board created the Buckaroo Ball in 2010 to raise money for ongoing repairs and maintenance of the theater. With an 82-year-old facility, just maintaining the building is a huge expense, said Ionia Theatre Director Gary Ferguson.

"We usually end up with some unforeseen issues," he said. "It you don't take care of the minor issues, they will become major issues."

Ferguson added that work has been required on the building's six furnaces and air-conditioning units, roof, plumbing and lighting, which is "quite expensive. The theater sign requires a fair amount of maintenance, and is due for a paint job this year. The Buckaroo Ball helps us with that."

The Ionia Theatre is on the registry of the national Theatre Historical Society of America, and one of the few local theaters of this caliber in the country, Curtis said.

"The theater is definitely a jewel," Curtis said. "It is important to keep the doors open, and the Buckaroo Ball is designed to do just that."

In addition, the Ionia Theatre is part of the local fabric of the community, Curtis said. For decades, families have come to the theater to watch movies together, couples have had first dates there, and children have had school events there.

Thanks to recent upgrades to equipment, the theater cam continue to provide first-run movies in digital format, and the quality of both the picture and sound is "top-notch," Ferguson said. "Compare us to any of the big cinemas, and we're right up there with them, if not above. Any issues we had before all went away when we went digital."

"We're asking everyone to support the theater," Curtis said. "We've kept the Buckaroo Ball tickets at an attractive price to invite people here. It's the best deal in town."

For more information about the Buckaroo Ball or for tickets, contact the DDA at 616-527-1420.